MILLVILLE—Governor Jon S. Corzine today announced that the State of New Jersey will invest $27 million in the Route 49/55 improvement project, which will increase safety and decrease congestion at the intersection of routes 49 and 55 as well as the intersection of Route 49 and Wade Boulevard in Millville. The project is estimated to create 130 construction jobs.

“The State of New Jersey’s investment of $27 million in Cumberland County transportation infrastructure will improve roadway safety and improve quality of life in the area,” said Governor Corzine. “Equally important, this project will put people back to work by generating approximately 130 jobs for our citizens.”

This federally funded project includes major improvements to the Route 49 and Route 55 interchange as well as the Route 49 and Wade Boulevard intersection. NJDOT will increase the length of the Route 55 southbound off-ramp to Route 49. In addition, NJDOT will rehabilitate pavement, improve the drainage system, and install sidewalks, and a traffic signal on Route 49 from Wade Boulevard to Chancery Court.

On Route 55 from south of Route 49 to north of the Newcombtown overpass, NJDOT will increase the length of the Route 55 southbound deceleration lane. NJDOT will improve safety by eliminating the ramp from Route 49 westbound to Route 55 southbound and modifying the ramp from Route 49 to Route 55 southbound. In order to improve traffic flow, NJDOT will also improve the Route 49/Wade Boulevard interchange, which is west of the Route 49/55 intersection. This will include increasing the length of the left-turn lane from Route 49 westbound to Wade Boulevard.

NJDOT planned the project in a manner that minimally impacts traffic. Route 49 and 55 will remain open at all times and access to businesses will be maintained. NJDOT plans to start construction in fall 2009 and finish the project in spring 2011.